Improvement in packings for the tubes of steam-condensers



W. A. LIGHTHALL. Packings for the Tubes of Steam-Condensers, 61c.

Patented Nov. 24, 1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT Drrrn.

WILLIAM A. LIGHTHALL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKI NGS FOR THE TUBES 0F STEAM-CONDENSERS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,097, dated November 24, 1874 application filed October 13, 1874.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LIGHT- HALL, of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in the Construction of the Ends of the Tubes of Steam-Condensers and Water-Ooolers, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of two tubes of a steam-condenser, in position in a detached portion of the head-sheet with the packings, containing my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

My invention relates to the securing of the tubes in steam-condensers and watercoolers and consists in the combination, in the condenser-heads, of a suitable packing and the tubes, the latter being provided with slits at the ends, whereby said ends may be contracted for insertion in the packing, and thereafter enlarged for locking the tube in place.

Ais the head-sheet. Through this sheet apertures are made to receive the tubes B B. These apertures, in place of being made cylindrical or straight through the sheet, or having that portion intended to receive the packing enlarged, with a shoulder at the bottom, as is customary, I preferably make them of the form shown in the drawing, namely: For a portion of the distance from the outer surface inward, as from a to b, the aperture is cylindrical and of sufiicient diameter to receive the packing. From I) inward the aperture is gradually enlarged for a short distance, and then contracted gradually to the size of the tube 'at e, and thence, for the remainder of thedistance through, it is again cylindrical. It is essential that this latter contraction from c to e have a gradual taper or conical form, as shown in the drawings, the line of the taper e to e forming, with the cylindrical portion 0 to f, an obtuse angle, in order that the packing, when driven into the tapering space, shall be forced, wedge-like, between the tube and the head-sheet at that point; otherwise a permanently tight joint will not be formed. Now, when the packing is placed upon the tube in the aperture, as shown at B, the same will be accurately centered and so maintained, as is evident. Then, by swaging the packing forcibly in, it will assume the form seen at B, filling the aperture; and, in doing so, the inner end will be contracted in upon the tube very tightly, forming a most perfect steamtight joint; and, the center being enlarged to a diameter greater than the outer cylindrical portion, it is obvious that the packing must be held securely in place, and cannot be forced out by the sliding of the tube within it. It may be found to be desirable to make several cuts into the inner end of the packing-tube, as shown in the drawing, (see Fig. 3,) in order that it may the more readily and perfectly be drawn into the conical space around the tube. The packing D which I employ is made of paper, and is formed by winding tightly around a mandrel, of the same diameter as the tubes B, a coil of paper, one side of which is covered with thin glue or other suitable adhesive substance, thus forming a tube of somewhat larger external diameter than the outer cylindrical part of the aperture in the head-sheet. The walls of this paper tube are then subjected to a great pressure by being forced through a properly-constructed die, and thus reduced to the diameter of the outer part of the aperture, when it is ready for use. I then prepare the tubeB for convenient insertion into the proper packing by cutting several slits, 1 2 3 4, in its end, as shown in the drawings. Then, by a properly-formed conical die or swage, which is drawn onto the slitted end, the same is contracted, as seen at d. Without this contraction it will be found extremely difficult to force the packing into the tube. Then, after the packing is applied, as seen at B, by driving a tapering punch into the end of the tube, the sections between the slits l 2 3 4 are bent outward, thus enlarging the end and rendering it impossible for the tube to slide inward; and, both ends of the tube being thus enlarged, the tube is secured in place.

I do not here claim the peculiarly-formed apertures in the head-sheet above described, reserving the same for a separate application for a patent which I intend to make.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

the packing employed to form steam tight 1874.

joints with the tubes B provided with slits at the ends, as described, whereby the said ends LIGHTHALL' are contracted for insertion in the packing, Witnesses:

and thereafter enlarged for locking the tubes B. SULARK,

in place, as specified. I WILLIAM STEVENSON.

The combination, in a steam-condenser, of Witness my hand this 12th day of October, 

